Territory



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-8heet 1.

J. E. BINGHAM.

MANUPAOTURES FOR THE SHOEING 0P HORSES. No. 346,350. Patented July 27,1886.

ATT R/VEY (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

J. E. BINGHAM.

MANUPAOTURES FOR THE SHOEING 0P HORSES.

No. 346,350. I atented July 27, 1886.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheetfl.

J. E. BINGHAM. MANUFAGTURBS FOR THE SHOBING 0P HORSES. No. 346,350.Patented July 27, 1886.

ATTORNEY NITED STATES JOHN E. BINGHAM, OF YVALLA VALLA, \VASHINGTONTERRITORY.

MANUFACTURE FOR THE SHOEING OF HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,350, dated July 27,1886.

Application filed Febrnaryfl, 1856. Serial in. 190,711. (No model.)

is a specification, reference being had therein I to the accompanyingdrawings.

The invention consists in substantially the following, to wit:interchangeable conformable blank sections of which to constitutesectional horseshoes, said sections severally being of varyingdimensions and curvatures, adaptable to hoofs of different sizes andshapes, and furnished to the public and to the trade in the varietiesnamed, as a new manufacture.

The object of the invention is to enable shoes to be procured fromthefactory or dealer ready-made andfinished, of iron or steel, andtempered, if desired, that can be applied in a very short space of timeand with perfect accuracy of fit, without having to reheat the same orbend them to conform to the shape of the hoof. All that is required isto ascertain and combine the pieces of the proper size and shape to fitthe foot to be shod, and note the numbering or other marks designatingthe sizes and curves of the pieces so used, and, when subsequent oradditional fitting is desired, to simply procure, by reference to saidnumbering or other marks of designation, the same sizes and curves firstemployed.

In the practice of the invention I prefer to construct the pieces in aseries of different sizes and curves, designating each size and curve bysome appropriate mark thereon, and to form the shoe of at least threepieces, although it is evident that a greater number could be resortedto, the said pieces 0 consisting of a toe-piece forming about one-thirdof the whole shoe, and two side pieces forming each another third, thethree being joined together in any suitable manner, but preferably asindicated in the accompanying drawings, or as in my applications ofFebruary 6 and 9, 1886, bearing Serial Nos. 191,056 and 191,337,respectively.

Heretofore it has been customary to make a shoe, of any of the differentstyles, about the right size and general shape of the foot to be shed,(this being done usually at the factory, where the shoes are made inlarge quantities and with the aid of machinery,) which, being selectedby the farricr, is by him reheated and reshaped to exactly conform tothe shape of the hoof. This requires the tools and skill of ablacksmith, and consumes the time of the smith and of the animal beingshod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent views ofwhole shoes embodying three pieces each, the corresponding partsconstituting the several shoes being of varying sizes and curves, and itis evident that by taking either the toe-piece or the sides from oneshoe and combining the same with the remaining portion or portions ofanother a shoe of a different size and contour is formed. Figs. 5 and 6represent views of side pieces of varying curves or lengths; and Fig. 7is a view in section, representing the manner of joinder of the sectionsof the shoe.

In the figures, A represents the toe-piece of the shoe; B B, the twoside pieces; and 0 indicates one manner of joinder of the said sidepieces with the toe-piece.

I am aware that shoes have been heretofore constructed in three or morepieces, with a view to allowing the heel parts of the foot to expand andcontract more freely than is possible with the oldstyle of shoe formedin one piece; but in such former instances the shoes had to be speciallyshaped to fit each foot to which they were applied, it beingimpracticable to keep on hand a stock and assortment of shoes ready-madeof all the various sizes and shapes necessary to properly fit manydifferent feet.

It is evident that from the many combinations that may be formed with acomparatively small stock of pieces i'nanufacturcd in accordance with myinvention a great number and variety-of difl'ercntshaped feet can. befitted.

In the practice of my invention on horses, about five different sizes oftoe-pieces are required for the front feet, and about the same number oftoe-pieces are required for thchind feet, The toe of the front foot of ahorse, as a rule, is nearly circular in outline, while the hind foot isslightly pointed. The curves of these five toe-pieces should correspondwith ILO the ordinary outlines of the feet. In exceptional cases atoe-piece designed for the hind foot will be required to fit a frontfoot, and sometimes a toe-piece designed for a front foot will berequired to fit peculiarly-shaped hind foot. Of the side pieces aboutfour different curves of each pair will suffice; but each curve willneed to be made of about four different lengths. Thus there Will besixteen right and sixteen left side pieces and ten toepieces. The sidepieces are used on the front or hind feet alike. Frequently the oppositesides of the same foot do not correspond in either length or curve. Insuch cases suitable side pieces should be used so as to exactly fit thepeculiarities of each side. Any of the ten toe-pieces can be arranged incombination with any of the right or left side pieces, so as to fit avery great number of differentlyshaped feet. Several hundred differentshapes can thus be readily fitted without other tools or appliances thanthe ordinary rasp, shoeinghammer, and nails, and without reheating orbending the pieces.

While I have referred herein to several forms of joining the parts ofthe shoes to gether, it is evident that in the practice of my method Iam not limited to any particular shoes, said sections severally being ofvary ing dimensions and curvatures adaptable to hoofs of different sizesand shapes; and furnished to the public and to the trade in thevarieties named, as a new manufacture.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. BINGHAM. In presence of- Gno. T. THOMPSON, G. M. STEARNS.

